DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
BIOGRAPHY BOOK
WELCOME LETTER
Greetings,
It brings me immense pleasure to welcome Cohort 24 to the Leadership Development Program (LDP) We are in the second cycle of the relaunch of the Leadership Development Program 2.0 (LDP 2.0). In LDP, the ongoing tradition is to cultivate personal integrity and growth, academic achievement, and an inclusive community of minoritized businesses, nonprofit and community leaders.
The Carey LDP Graduate Certificate provides rigorous active learning, feedback, and skills applicable to real-time practice and solution finding LDP is delivered synchronously online and is augmented by two themed in-person residencies that features thought leaders, career enhancement opportunities, focused networking, and interaction with a world-class LDP faculty and guest professionals. The LDP approach weaves together innovative strategies that stem from validated leadership practices in conjunction with the internationally recognized LDP model of leadership development Said model now has more than 600 graduates who are leaders and contributors in business, nonprofits, and government sectors.
At the November 2023 Residency, the LDP faculty and I look forward to your full engagement and participation in Personal Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Digital World Given Mounting AI Impact through focused Skill Learning and Practice Activities Author, educator, and researcher Dr Candace Steele Flippin will facilitate the focused journey. The March 2024 Residency held in Washington, DC will be facilitated by nationally recognized DEIB and organization leader Mr. Ian Brown.
Again, my sincerest thank you to Dr. Ashley H. Clarke, Senior Associate Director for Diversity, and Inclusion and LDP Program Manager We partner with the Carey Team and LDP alumni who will network with LDP 24 during and beyond the November Residency.
Warmest Regards,
James Calvin, PhD
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Leadership Development Program Administrators and Staff:
James Calvin, PhD, Academic Program Director Professor, Associate Dean for DEIB
Jessica Cotton, Assistant Director of Admissions, LDP
Ashley H. Clarke, PhD, Senior Associate Director for Diversity and Inclusion & LDP Program
Manager
Taylor Gulotta, Assistant Director of Residencies and Events
Reginia Hawkins, B.S. Administrative Supervisor & LDP Residency Support
Divita Pandita, MBA '25, Graduate Assistant
Miriam Jeschke, Academic Program Coordinator
Neruh Ramirez, Sr. Director for Academics
Miller Simmons, III, M.Ed, MBA, CCMC, LDP ('12), Associate Director, Coaching & Education
Roger Williams, Director Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (Community and Corporate Partnerships)
Leadership Development Program Carey Business School Champions:
Alex Triantis, PhD, Dean of the Carey Business School
Mr. John Hunter, Executive Vice President, Customer Fulfillment (Retired, QVC), JHU
Carey Board Member and Dean’s Advisory Council URG Advisory Board
Jill Green, JD, Sr. Assoc Dean, Student Exp and Str Iniatives
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM RESIDENCY
LDP students complete most of their coursework synchronously online, with two in-person residency periods during the 9-month LDP.
The fall residency is held at our Harbor East Campus in Baltimore and the spring residency is held at our Washington, D C Campus The theme for the LDP Fall 2023 Residency is Personal Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Digital World The fall residency features Dr Candace Steele Flippin, the residency director Inperson course work for Statistical Analysis with Dr Cyrus Green and Marketing Mangement with Dr. Montressa Washington will be a part of the fall residency. There will be LDP Network building with Carey Black Alumni Network and URG Advisory Group among other residency opportunities.
The Spring 2024 Residency will be an extension of the fall, where Dr James Calvin is the residency director The spring residency will also feature Mr Ian L Brown, a nationally recognized leader of Strategy implementation, Diversity, and Inclusion. Students will engage with culturally diverse leaders in business, government, and nonprofit sectors. Students will participate in two executive sessions. There will be in-person course modules. Network and capacity building will be featured along with other residency opportunities
The residencies are supported by Dr James Calvin, Dr Ashley H Clarke, Reginia Hawkins, Taylor Gulotta, and Divita Pandita.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM RESIDENCY DIRECTOR
Dr. Candace Steele Flippin
Dr. Candace Steele Flippin is the Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Acuity Brands, a leading industrial technology company based in Atlanta, GA. She is a member of the executive leadership team and leads all aspects of Acuity Brands’ global communications strategy, including corporate communications, media relations, reputation, and brand management
Dr Flippin is the LDP Residency Director. She is a noted researcher and author whose research focuses on Generation Z and millennials in the workplace Her authored books include Generation Z in the Workplace (2017), Millennials in the Workplace (2017), and Get Your Career in SHAPE (2022) Her most recent work, Women in the Workplace, highlights the experiences of women in professional environments
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Dr. James Calvin
FALL I: MANAGING IN A DIVERSE & GLOBAL WORLD
Business organizations and other critical organizations operate in both a market and nonmarket environment A major focus of the course is examining contextually global diversity, inclusion, and multicultural issues through the lens of multiple dimensions
Successful, globally minded managers align the firm’s capabilities with the demands of both its market and nonmarket environment
This course examines political, regulatory and societal factors of influence Students learn to analyze the motives for focused intervention to better judge when and how political developments may affect business or organization interest
Dr. Cyrus Green
FALL II: STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Students learn statistical techniques for further study in business, economics, and finance The course covers sampling distributions, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation, basic modeling, analysis of variance, and chi-square testing. The course emphasizes statistics to solve management problems. Case studies, spreadsheets, and Excel Add-in Data Analysis ToolPak computer software are used.
Dr. Montressa Washington
FALL II: MARKETING MANAGEMENT
This course covers principles of market-driven managerial decision making that determine competitiveness in dynamic consumer and organizational markets. Particular areas of emphasis include industry analyses, dynamics of competition, market segmentation, target marketing, channels of distribution, and product and pricing decisions
In-depth analytical skills are developed through case analyses, class discussions, and applied projects
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Dr. Dalton Tong
SPRING 1: ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING
This course emphasizes the vocabulary, methods, and processes by which business transactions are communicated Topics include the accounting cycle; basic business transactions involving assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, and expenses; as well as preparation and understanding of financial statements, including balance sheets, statements of income, and cash flows Students will gain knowledge of not only how to account for particular transactions, but perhaps more importantly, how those transactions affect the financial statements, and how those financial statements are critical to understanding the financial performance, health, and prospects of a company
Dr. Steven Cohen
SPRING I: BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION*
Effective BIPOC leaders are also skillful communicators To succeed as a leader, you not only must drive performance but also inspire diverse stakeholders by navigating and building trust Developing an appropriate strategy is only part of the job; you must also gain buy-in while demonstrating leadership presence
Dr. Karen Proudford
SPRING II: LEADERSHIP THEORY INTO PRACTICE
A blend of leadership theory and practice, contemporary research, assessment and feedback for intentional leadership. The goal of the course is to build understanding of organizational actors’ behavior. Its goal is to help you leverage organizational behavior to enhance your ability to lead, now and in the future Specifically, this course seeks to provide you with both the analytical frameworks and the practical experience necessary to better engage and understand leadership approaches and practices in organizations
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
SARA
ABDOLLAHI
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
CONTACT
sabdoll1@jhu.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/saraabdollahi/
FUTURE PLANS
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Overall, Sara wants to apply her background at the interface of engineering, medicine, and public policy to support the innovation and translation of technologies that improve human health, the environment, and quality of life She is open to pursuing this vision in spaces doing the same, including in government, academia, industry, and non-profit organizations. She is also interested in expanding access to education, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), through outreach, mentorship, and science communication. Sara enjoys creative writing, gardening, traveling, and exploring cuisines and recipes
BACKGROUND
Sara is an engineer-scientist with a background in public policy. Her academic research was in the biomedical sciences, including projects developing therapies and devices for neurodegenerative disease, orthopedic, and cardiovascular applications. Throughout these projects, she used techniques in additive manufacturing (3D printing), biomaterials characterization, stem cell culture, and tissue engineering Her public policy experience involves the application of decision science tools, such as expert elicitation, statistical analysis, benefit-risk assessment, and tradeoff techniques Sara holds a Ph D in biomedical engineering and engineering and public policy (dual degree) from Carnegie Mellon University. She completed her postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine.
DESIRED SKILLS
Sara looks forward to continuing her journey at JHU in the Leadership Development Program (LDP). She hopes to extend her skills in contributing to shaping psychologically safe environments, consensus building, and storytelling that support community engagement She is also interested in translating her quantitative skills into the context of management and business administration
CONTACT
caugust8@jh.edu
FUTURE PLANS
Post LDP, Cicely plans to pursue an advanced degree in Environmental Psychology or Environmental Health Equipped with as set of empowering skills learned in LDP, she endeavors to influence policy on healthy and sustainable building materials, design, and standards. Cicely’s goal is to see sustainable communities developed for people of all statuses in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Cicely enjoys learning, outdoor activities, giving back to her community, and beach vacations.
BACKGROUND
Cicely has a passion for health and well-being in the clinical and public health areas. She is a clinical research professional in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry with 17+ years’ experience. She currently serves on an infectious disease team at a groundbreaking biopharma. She is the Senior Clinical Trial Manager and Clinical Operations Lead for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant study and a solid organ transplant study For much of her career, Cicely has worked within leading industry organizations, some that have in recent years ranked within the top five in the world Cicely has had the unique opportunity to be part of teams that have brought new medicines/biologics to market or advanced them for use in new indications. Cicely earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish and a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She received her Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification in 2022. She is an avid learner and has a penchant for environmental science, the built environment and overall healthy living.
DESIRED SKILLS
As a member of Cohort 24 in the Leadership Development Program, Cicely aspires to complete the program with increased business acumen, authentic networking skills, and well-developed strengths to build and lead teams now and for the future.
CONTACT
bawosik1@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/biawosika
FUTURE PLANS
For the past 1 5 years, Dr Awosika has served as an official Career Advisor in the UC College of Medicine Just a few short months prior to starting LDP, she was promoted to Assistant Dean of DEI with a focus on medical education within the College. As she navigates the new space, she is humbled and looking forward to combining her interest of progressing through executive leadership and patient care, while advancing the field of medical education. Her interests include singing and musical theater, running (participated in a full and half marathons), and rollerblading She additionally enjoys participating in children's ministry at church and community service.
BACKGROUND
Dr Bi Awosika is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and academic hospitalist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine within the Division of General Internal Medicine She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in HumanBiology at Stanford University and matriculated at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, earning her Doctor of Medicine Dr Awosika pursued her residency training in Internal Medicine at Boston University Medical Center, where she was appointed to serve as Chief Medical Resident through 2012. Thereafter, she joined as faculty at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, beginning her career in hospital medicine Her experiences included being appointed the Medical Director on a new Medical Stepdown Unit, participating in Intern Selection interviews, and being a Unit Champion for the Early Discharge/Length of Stay Initiative With her transition to the University of Cincinnati, she serves as Chair of the Resident Clinical Competency Committee, Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, former Course Director of the Annual UC General Internal Medicine UpdatesConference andis involved as the faculty mentor for Medical Community Advocates for Representation, Equity and Social Justice, known as MedCARES She currently is co-lead for the American Medical Association-UC Resident Diversity Leadership Program and serves nationally as a member in the Society of Hospital Medicine’s Physicians in Training Committee With her years of education and service, she has been awarded honors from Distinguished Young Alumna Award, the Richard Vilter Award for teaching, to being inducted into both the Cincinnati and the National Minority Quality Forum “Forty under 40” classes.
DESIRED SKILLS
Given the dynamic changes of legislation, she is looking forward to developing and cultivating her ability to effectively lead multicultural groups with integrity and purpose on the clinical and administrative levels. The leadership skills required to foster an inclusive environment that together builds on impact and sustainable change are ones that appear to be in alignment with the LDP program which is exciting Furthermore, she is really looking forward to the challenge and growth, as well as the collaboration and mentorship throughout this leadership journey
SEBRINA
CONTACT
scampb84@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/sebrinac
FUTURE PLANS
Sebrina plans to apply her LDP teachings in her current role for the immediate future by becoming a more effective leader for herself and her team One of Sebrina’s long term career goals is to pivot into a general operational or strategic role that can allow her to transition to other sectors both inside and outside of healthcare.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
In her free time Sebrina enjoys traveling, volunteering with not-for-profit organizations focused on mentoring minority youth, and spending time with her family
BACKGROUND
Sebrina is a recent Atlanta transplant with nearly 10 years of professional experience in Healthcare Operations, with an emphasis on Population Health Management. Sebrina currently serves as Senior Director of Practice Liaisons with Diverge Health and is responsible for the development, implementation, and on-going operations of the operational teams that support primary care clinicians and their staff in their transition to Value Based Care for their most vulnerable patient populations. Sebrina is passionate about improving healthcare through provider education, performance improvement, cost reduction, and ultimately improving patient outcomes. Sebrina attended Saint Louis University where she graduated with a B S in Health Information Management and her Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA). Sebrina also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification as well as a Six Sigma Green Belt
DESIRED SKILLS
Sebrina is looking forward to better understanding her personal leadership style and how to successfully, as well as confidently navigate interactions with CSuite executives. Sebrina believes that participating in this program will provide her with a polished skill set of both “soft” leadership skills as well as “hard” business operations skills that are critical for success in executive leadership positions Sebrina is also looking forward to learning from her fellow cohort members unique perspectives and backgrounds as well as connecting with John Hopkin’s vast network of alumni
STACY
C. JOHNSON
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
CONTACT
sjohn366@jh edu
www linkedin com/in/stacychoczynski-johnson-dvm-01951325/
FUTURE PLANS
Dr Choczynski plans to leverage her skills as a technical expert in animal health to work in an influential leadership role within the pharmaceutical, healthtech or veterinary space Her ultimate goal is to be a Medical Operations VP or Chief Medical Officer
BACKGROUND
Dr Choczynski is a high performing veterinary leader and ambassador with over 20 years of experience in animal healthcare She currently serves as a regional leader for Mission Veterinary Partners, a group of over 300 veterinary hospitals As a graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Choczynski is motivated by improving healthcare delivery through processes and talent development. Her mission as a strategic veterinarian and proven sales professional is to build capacity through relationship building, education and the introduction of solutions. She is an approachable cross-generational communicator with a mind for marketing which has been instrumental in her career development.
DESIRED SKILLS PERSONAL INTERESTS
Dr Choczynski describes herself as a “neophile” and enjoys trying new things, ranging from exotic cuisine to unique travel destinations. She is an active communityminded mother andlife-long learner. This drives her decisions on how to enjoy her free time, which often involves voluntarism in women’s leadership, enjoying family time or learning salsa dancing.
Dr. Choczynski hopes to build foundational business knowledge to leverage within her current organization to “speak the language” of the C-Suite. She intends to complete an MBA program in the next 3 to 5 years. Dr. Choczynski hopes that the learnings and networking from LPD will elevate her applications to top business schools that focus on pharma, healthcare delivery and innovation.
THOMAS
CUDJOE
CONTACT
tcudjoe2@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/thomascudjoe/
FUTURE PLANS
Dr. Cudjoe aspires to become a part of formal leadership role in an academic medical center/school of medicine.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Dr. Cudjoe deeply enjoys a good movie and working with clay on a potter’s wheel.
BACKGROUND
Thomas K M Cudjoe, M D , M P H , M A is the Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Endowed Professor, Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He leverages community-based strategies, mixed-methods and human centered design to understand and address social isolation. Additionally, he has led studies that examined the prevalence of social isolation among older adults and associations between social isolation and health outcomes. Dr. Cudjoe also serves on the Scientific Advisory Council for the Foundation for Social Connection. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and on Good Morning America Dr Cudjoe received his undergraduate degree (summa cum laude) in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Hampton University and was active in the Honors College and Army ROTC program (Distinguished Military GraduateTop 20% of Graduates in Nation) He graduated from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and earned a master’s in public health in health policy at Harvard School of Public Health He completed his internal medicine residency Internal Medicine at Howard University Hospital in Washington DC and clinical and research fellowship in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In 2023, Dr. Cudjoe completed a master’s degree in social design at Maryland Institute College of Art.
DESIRED SKILLS
Dr Cudjoe seeks deeper insights on leadership as well as fundamental business skills including accounting and business communication
CHRISTIAN
E. COLÓN
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
CONTACT
cecheva1@jh.edu www.linkedin.com/in/christianechevarria-1208a3114/
BACKGROUND
Christian was born and raised in Puerto Rico and fell in love with neuroscience during his undergraduate studies in JHU While working in the Neuroplasticity Lab, he became interested in the pipeline between discoveries in the lab and developing treatments This led him to pursue an MBA, a 4 year career in medical devices, and his latest role in Pharmaceutical R&D
DESIRED SKILLS
Christian hopes to learn the decision-making and communication skills necessary to cultivate an executive presence and effectively lead a global organization
FUTURE PLANS
Christian will pursue a PhD in Public Health and aspire to be a transformative leader in vaccine development and infectious diseases
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Christian adores history and is an avid reader of philosophy and science-fiction He has recently gotten into woodworking and checking off every class available in Baltimore's Tool Library
SHAMAIN
CONTACT
sjohn348@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/shamain-
johnson/
FUTURE PLANS
Shamain is looking to pivot industries and is interested in obtaining a leadership role in the non-profit sector
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Shamain is passionate about serving the community and volunteers many hours throughout the year giving back Opportunities to serve often manifest themselves in mentoring youth, coordinating community forums and drives, and serving on various boards in Fairfield County. In addition to advocating and serving others, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, entertaining, attending concerts, and plays, and traveling.
BACKGROUND
Shamain enters the LDP program with extensive experience in the field of education Her leadership experiences include serving at the school and central office, in various districts throughout the state of Connecticut She currently serves as the Director of Specialized Instruction. She leads a dynamic team committed to ensuring that students are receiving a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Shamain has been instrumental in restructuring the Office of Specialized Instruction to provide more targeted support to address the needs of students across the district. Her graduate work resulted in a master’s degree in Special Education, a 6th year in Educational Leadership, and Connecticut certification in Special Education and Adminsitration She serves on various boards committed to supporting and enriching the lives of youth They include the Fairfield County Fund for Women and Girls, LiveGirl, and the Polished Pearls Foundation.
DESIRED SKILLS
Shamain desires to develop business acumen and diversify her skills which will help her transition into a different industry committed to improving the lives of others
NEKITA
CONTACT
njones91@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/nekita-jones
BACKGROUND
Nekita is a graduate of the University of Missouri in St Louis with a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University She has over 10 years of experience leading development fundraising strategies and creating mission driven marketing strategies across the United States.
DESIRED SKILLS
Nekita seeks to develop effective leadership principles that can guide her through a complex world She also hopes to expand her analytical skills to develop strategic and data-driven solutions Lastly, she is hopeful that she will make lifelong connections with her cohort and extend her professional network
FUTURE PLANS
Nekita enjoys spending time with her family in Maryland, reading, gardening, and the occasional brunch outing
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Nekita aspires to continue excelling in her career
ADIJAT
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
CONTACT
akadiri2@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/adijat-kadiri4665b6a8/
FUTURE PLANS
Her future plans involve completing the Leadership Development Program (LDP), pursuing an MBA, and exploring career opportunities in health or school administration Her long-term goal is to expand non-profit education services in Africa and collaborate with global non-profit organizations to achieve this mission.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Adijat values family time, tutors her children, enjoys fitness at the gym, social gatherings, and actively engages in helping others
BACKGROUND
Adijat Kadiri is a versatile social entrepreneur and educator with a ten-year career that has featured excellence in customer service, school administration, and nonprofit work. She currently excels at providing compassionate patient care at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Hailing from Nigeria, Adijat holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Lagos State University and a Postgraduate Degree in Education from the University of Ilorin. However, her true calling emerged when she recognized the pressing need for education in underserved communities With unwavering determination, she established a school in a rural community in Nigeria, introducing innovative teaching methods and ensuring its sustainability through effective planning Beyond entrepreneurship, her passion for transformation and community contribution led to her involvement with nonprofits, notably as a board member of Youth Builders Initiative Adijat Kadiri's journey exemplifies her unwavering commitment to education, community development, and compassionate service, leaving a lasting impact on others' lives
DESIRED SKILLS
During the specialized Leadership Development Program (LDP) at JHU, Adijat aspires to strengthen her communication, confidence, analytical, and leadership skills Her aim is to connect with accomplished peers and alumni, benefiting from the expertise of JHU faculty
Adijat is driven to acquire the skills essential for key roles in serving underserved communities and promoting innovation She intends to leverage JHU Carey Business School's managerial tools to introduce innovative ideas to her organization and make a positive impact.
KING
OLUBELA
CONTACT
kolubel1@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/king-olubela/
FUTURE PLANS
King plans to implement what he learned from LDP in his day-to-day life. He sees himself working as a manager where he’ll mentor young professionals in the future. He plans on continuing his education by pursuing an MBA.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
King has always had a love for the arts. He often spends his free time traveling and taking pictures of different landmarks He is also a huge music lover and loves listening to new genres over the last year he really dived into Amapiano He loved spending time at the movies with his loved ones King is also an outdoor man as he spends most weekend hiking and being adventurous King has always had a passion for self-improvement, both professionally and personally, as this will allow him to grow and excel in his endeavors.
BACKGROUND
King Olubela earned his bachelor’s in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Public Health at the University of South Florida He currently works as a territory business manager at Sanofi His role involves increasing the market penetration of his products within his market He is also very passionate about the financial sector and the market as a whole He is passionate about mentoring others and being mentored
DESIRED SKILLS
King is interested in the LDP programs because it brings together diverse professionals from various sectors of the economy Being exposed to this environment would allow him to have a deeper understanding of different perspectives as well as gather insights about different industries The program will provide him with different frameworks to tackle everyday work problems. King’s Business Acumen will be developed which will allow him to effectively communicate more effectively and value collaboration within the workplace. In addition, this program will allow him to self-reflect on his leadership skills which will be pivotal in his future endeavors. To summarize, the LDP program will allow him to grow professionally and allow him to make a big impact at the organizations that he works for
ALEX
CONTACT
joverst2@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/alex-overstreet
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Alex’s personal interests include both watching and playing sports, serving as a college recruiter with focus on HBCUs, and being an active mentor to youth in Carthage, MS He is currently working on his own scholarship program along with mentorship pipeline with initial focus for high school students with STEM aspirations.
BACKGROUND
Alex serves as Business Intelligence Analyst for Deere & Co focusing on battery electric vehicle systems He has a multitude of experience within engineering lifecycle phases ranging from early development software and architecture design to automating manufacturing processes. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Jackson State University along with Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
DESIRED SKILLS
Alex seeks to enhance his business and leadership knowledge, marrying it with his technical expertise. He anticipates that LDP will not only mold him into a knowledgeable leader but will also inform best practices to guide the next generation
FUTURE PLANS
Alex seeks to enhance his business and leadership knowledge, marrying it with his technical expertise He anticipates that LDP will not only mold him into a knowledgeable leader but will also inform best practices to guide the next generation.
SETH
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
CONTACT
sryland1@jh.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/srylander/
FUTURE PLANS
Seth’s future plans include obtaining an MBA/MS from the Carey Business School while being on the path to transition into full-time entrepreneurship
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Seth spends time giving back, serving on STEM nonprofit organizations in various capacities. Seth also enjoys spending time with close family and friends. Her numerous hobbies include hiking, traveling, reading, weightlifting and tending to her plant squad
BACKGROUND
As a Systems Engineer, Seth provides oversight, analysis, and market research for ground system technologies and developing next generation common services technologies Previous experiences revolve around marine engineering, providing engineering and program management, including but not limited to contractor oversight, ship system assessments, and conducting technical proposal evaluations. Ms. Rylander’s career experiences span nearly a decade across academia, manufacturing, government, and consulting industries touching Marine, Environmental, Materials, and Systems Engineering. Seth is a native Texan, graduating from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
DESIRED SKILLS
Seth is interested in building, nurturing, and sustaining a dynamic network within the LDP program at JHU, develop and strengthen business acumen, and retool/refine leadership/management style in a multicultural and global world.
CARLINA
CONTACT
csmit460@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/carlinasmith
FUTURE PLANS
Carlina plans on continuing her career in the federal government after completing LDP, leveraging the skills that she's developed to enter the Senior Executive Service
BACKGROUND
As a Supervisory Contracting Officer and Fellows Supervisor, Carlina Smith plays an integral role in the development of the future acquisition workforce within the Contracts and Acquisition Management organization of the United States Department of Education. Carlina received her Bachelor's in Business Management and Administration from Mount St. Mary's University in 2018 and went on to complete her Master's in Legal Studies with a focus on Government Procurement Law at The George Washington University Law School in 2022. Carlina currently maintains a FAC-C (Professional) certification, FAC-C Level III certification, FACCOR Level II certification and a Government Grants Management certification
DESIRED SKILLS PERSONAL INTERESTS
Carlina's personal interests involve sending time with her teenage children, husband and two dogs She enjoys traveling the world and learning about different cultures
As times are rapidly changing, Carlina looks forward to further developing her leadership style and management techniques to support multicultural environments. Being able to develop a strong network of equally yoked individuals is something that is also important to Carlina and she looks forward to the opportunity that LDP has afforded her to accomplish these goals
CHENIAH
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
CONTACT
cstree11@jh.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/cheniah-streeter16844414b/
FUTURE PLANS
Cheniah’s goals upon completion of the LDP program is to continue in school to receive her MBA, mainly focusing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging She would like to get more minority students, young adults and women interested in STEM. She believes having a background of business, and learning management principles, could possibly spark advancement in the workplace and ultimately allow her to reach positions where she can speak on the behalf of minorities.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Cheniah enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, krav maga, and traveling She spends most of her time at church where she graphics produce on the production team
BACKGROUND
Cheniah is a Design Mechanical Engineer at L3Harris. She attended Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University, where she majored in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Manufacturing. During her college experience she was very active with student organizations such as being in the Honors Program, Sigma Alpha Iota (musical fraternity), Sigma Gamma Rho (sorority), NPHC council etc. She has about 5 years of engineering experience under her belt but is looking forward to switching up her career She currently leads the DE&I conversation for her team at her workplace and realized DE&I was her passion She wants to advocate for equal opportunities for minorities in STEM
DESIRED SKILLS
Cheniah plans to gain enough leadership, verbal and written skills to be able to bring back to her workplace She hopes that attending this program will increase her opportunity to get in the Flexible MBA program as well as allow her opportunities to network and meet new people.
MATTHEW
WILLIAMS
CONTACT
mwill342@jh edu
www linkedin com/in/matthew-
williams-7aab67a2/
FUTURE PLANS
Post LDP, Matthew looks forward to having a better understanding of what direction he wants to take his career after being 2 years in the DEI space. He believes je will have a better understanding of whether or not he wants to continue to pursue DEI as a direct career path or if he wants to impact DEI within the business, pursuing leadership opportunities in other functional areas He also wants to explore international business and companies that have global scale
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Throughout his time here at Carey, Matthew is looking forward to sharpening his financial acumen from the perspective of an executive. He is also very excited to jump back into the learning environment and hone skills that come with being a student again.
BACKGROUND
A skilled communicator and strategic thought partner, Matthew Williams is the Program Manager for the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) team at US Foods, one of the largest foodservice distributors in the United States and a Fortune 500 company. In this role he oversees all D&I communications, D&I strategic partnerships and leads the Power of Dialogue initiative companywide that assesses D&I readiness, awareness, and opportunities through roundtable discussions Matthew was one of the four founding leaders of the company’s Black Resource for Inclusion, Diversity, Growth, and Empowerment (BRIDGE) Employee Resource Group During this time, BRIDGE was honored by the Global ERG Network’s 2021 Diversity Impact Awards as a Top 25 ERG during the network’s annual “The Talk” event, designed to help corporate leaders better engage in tough conversations and dialogue across the company on topics that impact black professionals Before joining the US Foods D&I Team in 2021, Matthew was a Finance Manager at US Foods for 11 years, where he oversaw all contract management activities and processes for $2 5B+ of the company’s buying income He also played a significant role in the development, deployment, and evolution of the company’s contract lifecycle management system. Matthew earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Supply Chain and Operations Management from the University of Phoenix while pursuing a career as a classically trained professional dancer Matthew serves as the Board Chair for Art in Motion Creative Arts High School and also serves on the Advisory Committee for Black Culture in Chicago, a photography project created to counter misconceptions by presenting images and narratives that reveal the intrinsic value and diversity of Chicago’s Black culture Matthew also spends time mentoring young men to help them reach their full potential by overcoming societal and cultural barriers. He and his wife of seven years reside on the South Side of Chicago in the Bronzeville Community
DESIRED SKILLS
Matthew is an artist and loves all things ART. He also loves learning about and experiencing different cultures as it charges and fuels him to think more creatively and the innovation that is possible, not just through himself, but with and through others.
Advancing leadership through representation in business and community.
BIOGRAPHY BOOK LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Co-Editors:
Ashley Clarke, PhD
Divita Pandita (MBA ‘25)
